ICM Chapter 130
The leaves of the low evergreen trees lining the path from the mansion’s main gate to the main building had faded in color. It was due to the bitter winter wind that had blown all night.
Having been outside since early morning, Ashika’s hands had grown cold. Without realizing it, she rubbed her chilled hands together and blew on them. White breath puffed out in the frigid air before quickly disappearing.
‘Ah, it’s cold.’
When had it become so cold? The weather felt even colder as she stood still with nothing to do.
‘I should have worn a coat.’
She regretted coming out with only a thick shawl draped over her. Ashika pulled her collar tight and watched the servants busily moving about the garden.
Cargo wagons lined up along one side of the Igraine mansion’s garden. Since morning, servants traveling between the main building had been carrying luggage while sweating profusely despite the cold weather.
“Load that in the last wagon over there. No, bring the young lady’s belongings this way.”
The head maid moved among the bustling servants, giving directions here and there to ensure items didn’t get mixed up. The boxes brought from the main building varied in size and shape.
From small leather boxes for personal items to waterproofed boxes for storing dresses and large wooden boxes containing heavy furniture. Added to these were expensive gift boxes recently sent from Talion, making the amount of luggage to be loaded considerable.
The head maid approached Ashika, who was stiff from the cold, and spoke to her.
“My lady, you may go inside now. We’ve finished classifying and packing everything as you instructed.”
“Make sure to load the boxes from Talion in a separate wagon, and check once more before departure.”
“I won’t forget to handle it. Please go inside quickly.”
Seeing her shivering from the cold, the head maid urged Ashika to go inside once again.
“It would be troublesome if we discovered something missing after arriving at the territory.”
Moreover, there was even more luggage this time due to the wedding ceremony. It would be particularly troublesome if the missing items were related to the wedding ceremony. This was why Ashika was being especially meticulous.
“When will you return after going this time?”
“It will be difficult to return before winter ends.”
“Even during the New Year festival?”
Ashika nodded at the head maid’s question.
“The only New Year event in the capital is the imperial palace banquet anyway.”
The head maid fell silent at the words that she would skip even imperial palace events.
‘Well, she has left the territory vacant for too long.’
The place where a regional lord should be was originally their territory, not the capital. The situations of Talion and Igraine had simply been special. Except for regular territorial inspections, Ashika had mostly stayed in the capital. Therefore, Ashika’s absence felt quite unfamiliar to the head maid.
“Isn’t the Duke coming along?”
“He’ll probably go around the time of the wedding. He has business in the capital for now.”
The head maid nodded. Most of Weive’s work involved managing businesses and trading companies centered in the capital.
The previous Duke and Duchess had stayed in their territory and left capital affairs to their assistants, but Weive operated in the opposite manner. So it was understandable that he wouldn’t go to the territory immediately.
“I really wanted to see the young lady’s wedding, but it’s disappointing.”
“Someone needs to guard the capital mansion too. At least it’s better than not going to Talion territory at all.”
“I heard you’re holding the ceremony at the main castle?”
The head maid showed great interest in her only young lady’s wedding. It was a major family event taking place after twenty years. Not only the head maid but all the servants of the capital mansion were disappointed they couldn’t see the wedding.
“We’re following custom.”
The wedding would be held at the woman’s family home, and then they would go together to the man’s house. It was a procedure that followed tradition exactly.
“So after the wedding, will you go to Talion territory?”
“For now, yes, but I won’t stay in just one place.”
Ashika’s brow furrowed slightly. It wasn’t a simple matter.
After marriage, one’s residence normally followed the spouse with the title. Of course, in Ashika’s case, since she was set to inherit the ducal title, an ordinary spouse would have stayed in Igraine territory.
However, her marriage partner was Duke Talion. Since Weive was still in the Duke’s position on the Igraine side, Ashika’s position was fluid.
“Nothing has been settled, yet the wedding is right around the corner.”
That was truly the case. Drushia had strongly established that the two must be together upon marriage, but almost nothing had been resolved regarding the issues entangling both families.
Watching the luggage being loaded piece by piece into the wagons, Ashika’s mind became cluttered. Meanwhile, the wagons loaded with luggage were separated and moved to the warehouse for storage, and the head maid locked the door.
“Leave the warehouse key with the butler and tell him to look after the knights.”
“Yes, my lady.”
As Ashika gave instructions to the head maid and turned around, she saw the mansion’s main gate opening.
“Who’s coming this early in the morning? There weren’t any appointments scheduled for today, were there?”
The gate opening meant the Duke’s permission had been granted.
“Butler, who has come?”
Ashika called out to the butler who was heading from the main gate to the main building. The butler was holding a letter in his hand. The seal was so clear that it would be difficult to mistake the sender.
“Someone from the imperial palace. The Duke said to let them in.”
“From the imperial palace?”
Ashika and the head maid’s eyes widened. The butler’s face also showed clear signs of confusion.
“His Majesty the Emperor has ordered the young lady to enter the palace.”
“What?”
Ashika’s face hardened immediately. Usually, meetings with the Emperor took place with several days’ notice. It was quite rare to be notified on the morning of the same day. She could sense the intention not to give her time to prepare.
“The Duke will summon you shortly. It would be best to prepare.”
The butler bowed his head and quickly walked back toward the main building.
‘Why is the Emperor calling for me? Not grandfather, but me?’
Since the imperial investigator’s visit to the Igraine mansion, the imperial family had taken no other measures. When even Neoren, Talion’s former Duke, came to the capital, a cautious atmosphere began to flow among the nobles.
Thereafter, no more Noble Council meetings were held. Instead, rumors circulated that numerous nobles were busily coming and going from the imperial palace.
What could be the scheme? The sinister Emperor’s true intentions were not easy to guess. Reflecting on the events of the past few weeks, Ashika hurried her steps.
****
Throughout the walk, Drushia’s expression was no different from usual. Rather, he seemed to have regained his composure since the day the Noble Council meeting was suddenly convened.
“If you stare so intently, I might get other ideas.”
Wondering what he meant, Ashika’s face turned red.
“Is this really the time for jokes?”
“It’s not a joke but serious. Why, doesn’t it seem that way?”
Drushia smiled slightly and took Ashika’s hand. Rather than a formal gesture for escort, he completely enveloped her small hand and held it tightly.
“Rushia, this is the palace.”
Looking at the guide walking ahead, Ashika whispered quietly.
“That’s exactly why we should be together even more.”
Drushia pulled her hand and placed it on his arm. While gently patting the back of her hand, he didn’t lose his natural smile. Ashika sighed softly and gripped Drushia’s arm firmly.
“I heard the former Duke came? Is his health alright?”
“He’s already departed for the territory.”
“What? Already?”
Ashika’s eyes widened. He hadn’t recovered long ago, yet he was moving as busily as vigorous young people.
“Is he really… alright?”
“Our family line is naturally strong-boned.”
You can tell by looking at me, he whispered deliberately close to Ashika’s ear. At the tickling breath, Ashika flinched and hunched her shoulders.
“Let’s go quickly. Stop saying strange things.”
“You’re the strange one for taking that strangely.”
Chuckling, Drushia led her at a leisurely pace.
After entering the Emperor’s palace, their footsteps made almost no sound. The entire corridor was carpeted.
The Emperor’s palace, where even loud sounds couldn’t be made without permission. Amidst it, gentle music played. The sight of silently moving attendants buried in the music felt eerily strange.
The music grew closer, and the guide stopped in front of a large door. Seeing the face of the royal guard standing before the door, Drushia frowned.
‘Was he the Emperor’s closest knight?’
It was the knight who had guarded the ladies’ lounge on the day Coral was murdered. The knight who had even drawn his sword to stop Drushia. Wondering where such courage had come from, he turned out to be the Emperor’s closest guard.
Noticing Drushia’s change, Ashika whispered quietly.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
It was fortunate that Ashika didn’t remember the knight’s face due to the chaos at the time. The knight deliberately avoided eye contact, and Drushia quietly blocked her view in case Ashika might recall the memory.
When the guide knocked on the door to signal, it opened from inside.
“Here it is. Please enter.”
The guide stepped back and invited them to enter.
The place they were guided to was not the audience chamber but the Emperor’s personal salon. The Emperor’s or Empress’s salon was a private space. Since only a specially permitted few could come and go, entering this place also meant having high intimacy with the imperial family.
The Emperor, who had subtly been wary of Igraine and Talion until now. His calling both of them to this private place was quite meaningful.
Inside the salon, besides the musicians performing, five attendants were waiting. The Emperor was half-reclining on a sofa as large as a bed with his eyes closed.
The Emperor, who had hardly ever left the imperial palace in his lifetime, would often call someone to his salon to relieve his boredom. There were even rumors that opera singers frequented the Emperor’s salon for a while after the first Empress was deposed.
All of that had happened when they were all still young. The current Emperor simply maintained his position quietly like a withering old tree with most of its leaves fallen.
The performance that seemed like it would never end was cut short with a single gesture from the Emperor.
“We greet His Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire.”
When the performance stopped, Ashika and Drushia offered their greetings with proper etiquette.
The Emperor merely glanced at them sideways without straightening his half-reclined posture. Instead, he waved his hand once more to send the musicians outside.
“Raise your heads.”
Only after the Emperor’s permission did the two finally get to see the other’s face properly. A middle-aged man from whom no interest or energy could be felt, weary of everything.
‘His face looks familiar.’
Ashika felt a strange sensation. It was a face she had often seen in the past, but today it felt strangely familiar.